How to set up a wireless adapter. How do I connect my computer to Wi-Fi? Installing a Wi-Fi adapter

Without a working WiFi adapter, the laptop will not be able to connect to the wireless network. If you find that the Wi-Fi module is disabled, you can easily enable it yourself by hardware and software.

What is a WiFi adapter

A Wi-Fi adapter is a module in a laptop that is able to recognize signals from routers by establishing a wireless Internet connection. Any modern laptop has a WiFi adapter in the form of a built-in card.

If you want to connect to wireless networks from a computer, you can purchase an external WiFi adapter that connects to the system unit via the USB interface. In any case, the software configuration of the equipment will be the same, only the methods of hardware activation of the device will differ.

Hardware enable

To enable the Wi-Fi adapter on a laptop, find the corresponding hardware button on the case or use the hotkey combination. You can usually find out the current state of the module (on or off) using the indicator. If it is off, then you need to turn on WiFi on the laptop.

Most often, the combination of the Fn button with one of the keys of the F1-F12 row is responsible for turning on. ASUS laptops, for example, use the Fn + F2 combination. When these two keys are pressed simultaneously, all wireless modules of the laptop are activated, including Wi Fi.

Combinations for enabling Wi-Fi on laptops from various manufacturers:

Acer - Fn + F3.
ASUS - Fn + F2.
Dell - Fn + F2.
Gigabyte - Fn + F2.
Fujitsu - Fn + F5.
HP - Fn + F12.

The icons will help to determine the appropriate key. Usually, an antenna is drawn on the desired button, which sends out a signal.

On some laptop models, you can turn on the WiFi adapter with a separate button on the case. It can be located directly below the display. On older models, there is a two-position switch, which is located on the side of the laptop.

Software inclusion

If after the hardware activation of the WiFi adapter, the wireless icon with a list of available points for connection is not displayed in the tray, then you will have to activate the module in software as well. You can enable Wi-Fi in the system settings.

On Windows 8 and Windows 10, WiFi is disabled / enabled by a special switch located above the list of available points or in the system settings.

An icon should appear in the notification area, clicking on which will open a list of wireless networks available for connection. If the list indicates that there are no available connections, make sure Wi-Fi is configured on the router. If the wireless icon does not appear in the tray, make sure that the WiFi adapter is working without errors.

Possible startup problems

There are several reasons why the Wi-Fi model cannot be turned on:

The Fn button does not work, therefore, the key combination does not work.
The adapter drivers are not installed, the system does not detect the device.
The WiFi module is out of order and needs to be replaced.

Using a keyboard shortcut is usually not the only way to turn on the wireless module, but if you try to get the adapter to work with a combination of buttons and nothing comes out, then you should check the status of the software.

On some laptops, for the Fn button to work correctly, a special utility must be installed in the system. For ASUS laptops, this is the ATK Hotkey Utility. You can find suitable software on the manufacturer's website. The Fn button may not work for other reasons as well, but this is a topic for another long article.

The most common reason why the Wi-Fi adapter fails to turn on is the lack of hardware drivers.

Drivers can be installed automatically or manually. It is recommended to use manual installation after downloading the software from the manufacturer's website. If you manually install a driver of a suitable version and bit depth, the problem with enabling the adapter should disappear.

If no manipulation helps to turn on the adapter, then there is a possibility that it is damaged. You can replace the module at the service center, an alternative option is to buy an external adapter and connect it via the USB port. But these actions are only justified if you are sure that the built-in WiFi adapter is out of order.

How do I connect the adapter?

A wireless network adapter is a device that allows a computer to connect to the Internet. Wi-Fi adapters are relevant for PCs and laptops that are not equipped with a Wi-Fi module.

In this article, we will look at how to connect and configure the adapter.

Types of network adapters

Today there are two types of Wi-Fi adapters

External adapters

There are devices that look like a regular USB flash drive. They are connected to a computer or laptop via a USB connector.
There are also adapters on sale that look like a mini-router. The device is equipped with one or two external antennas and connects to a computer via USB / mini USB.

Internal adapters

There are devices that look like a microcircuit to which one or two antennas are attached. They are connected to the computer through the motherboard.
There are also adapters with a built-in antenna that plug into a computer's expansion slot (if available).

Regardless of the type of network adapter, the device provides access to the Internet through a connection to an access point.

Connecting and configuring a Wi-Fi adapter

Check the contents of the wireless device package: adapter, installation disc, user manual for connection and configuration. The kit can also include an extension cable (for USB adapters).
Connect the adapter to a computer or laptop (via USB port, to the motherboard, or via a slot, depending on the device model). To connect the USB adapter, it is better to use the ports that are located on the back of the computer or use an extension cable to connect (so the data transfer speed will be higher).
Then insert the disc into the drive and install the software. Follow the instructions of the installation wizard, along the way accepting the license agreement.
If you do not have an installation disc, then download drivers from the Internet by typing the adapter model and operating system type into a search engine.
After completing the installation of the software, the computer will display a corresponding entry on the screen: click the "OK" button and close all windows.
Remove the device (if you need to safely remove it, use it) and restart your computer.
Wait until the operating system is fully loaded and reconnect the Wi-Fi adapter to your computer or laptop.
Left-click on the monitor icon, which is located on the taskbar near the clock, and check if the network connection icon appears.
Select the required connection from the list and click on it.
Enter a password if required.

How to connect the internal adapter to the computer

To install the internal network adapter in the computer system unit, there must be a free slot for it.

Turn off the computer from the network and disconnect all wires from the back of the system unit (if necessary, note the location of the cables).
Place the unit on a flat surface and remove the screws on the rear cover.
The desired socket is located on the rear panel at the bottom of the case: find the empty socket for the adapter, if necessary, remove the protective panel (unscrew the bolt).
Remove the antenna from the adapter.
Next, touch the body of the block (to discharge static electricity).
Snap the adapter securely into the socket.
If you removed the protective panel, then put it in place (screw the bolt).
Then you need to install the antenna to the power adapter.
Close the case of the system unit and screw all the bolts into place.
Reconnect all cables to the back panel and turn on the computer.
Click on the power button of the computer and wait for the OS to fully load.

Take a look at our section, which contains articles on installing, connecting and replacing various devices.

Windows 7 supports the vast majority of network cards. Moreover, the majority of modern network equipment is sharpened specifically for Windows, with all the resulting problems, because Windows is not famous for its stability. However, Microsoft quickly solves most of the problems that arise with network equipment, honor and praise them, but those that inevitably arise will be discussed in detail in this article.

First of all: in order to expand the potential range of tasks that a client computer performs on the network, there is a need to change the basic parameters of the network card.

Here are examples of such tasks:

How can I see a list of available network adapters (network connections) in Windows 7?

The list of available devices on Windows 7 can be seen in two ways:

The second method starts by opening the "Device Manager" using the "Run" window:

Enabling the network card, including using the BIOS

Read the instructions for all BIOS versions in the article -

On laptops, the network interface is turned on and off by pressing a keyboard shortcut, on desktop computers, through the BIOS menu.

To enable the wireless network adapter on laptops, there is a combination of "Fn + F12", although some manufacturers make a special key for this function.

Installing a network driver on Windows 7, including without the Internet

Since the network adapter is equivalent to the Internet, its absence makes it very difficult to download the driver to the network card. The issue of preliminary recording of drivers on media is being solved.

Drivers are downloaded and written to a flash drive, CD, etc.
The media is connected to the PC.
After that, the "Device Manager" opens, using the "Run" window (called by pressing the "Win + R" keys), in which the command "devmgmt.msc" is entered.
There is a section "Sound, game and video devices", subsection "Unknown device", which has not yet been installed. The installation of drivers for an unknown device (future network adapter) must be started after selecting it with the right mouse button and choosing "Properties" in the drop-down menu.
Left-click - "Refresh".
Manual installation is selected.
The path to the media with the drivers is registered or indicated.
Finally, the installation begins. It takes no more than a couple of minutes.

The network card without drivers in the "Device Manager" was in the "Unknown devices" section. After the update, it takes its rightful place - in the "Network adapters".

Video - How to install a network adapter driver without Internet access

Setting up a network connection in Windows 7

Although Internet service companies prefer to configure their customers' network equipment themselves, sometimes more advanced configuration is required. This is typical for computers with multiple adapters.

For this:

Go to the "Start" context menu, open the "Control Panel".
In the "View" category, set the value "Category", find and open the "Network and Internet" section.
Click on the "Network and Sharing Center" link.
Click on the "Change adapter settings" link.
Right-click on the network connection shortcut, select Properties.
Check the box "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4)", click on the "Properties" button.
Check the box "Use the following IP address", fill in the fields with data.

On a note! The fields and "Default gateway" are in the agreement with the Internet provider, the rest of the fields contain values that are the same for all users.

Video - The computer does not see the network adapter

How to view and change the parameters of a network card (IP, Mac, etc.) in Windows 7?

It is easy to see the parameters of the adapter and its MAC address thanks to the system programs.

For this:

How do I reset all settings of a network driver?

If you want to completely roll back all the settings to the original level, then do the following:

Can I create two NICs?

Many users are thinking about getting themselves a second network card. Physically, there are no problems here: most laptops and computers support a second network card. But there are exceptions, as well as damaged slots, as well as netbooks and tablet computers. In this situation, you need to use a virtual card that distributes Internet traffic no worse than a physical one.

The ability to install such a virtual card is available in the Windows system itself:

In the "Start" menu in the field, type "manager", open "Device Manager".
In the "Device Manager" click on the "Network adapters" section, select "Actions" from the top menu, and "Install old device" from the drop-down menu.
The installation wizard will open. You need to select the manual option to access the list of drivers for all devices.
Scroll through the categories, highlight Network Adapters, click Next.
Then click on "Micrsoft" and add "Micrsoft loopback adapter" or "Microsoft loopback adapter" which will then appear in the network connections window.
Please confirm. The network adapter should now appear in "Network Connections".

Full reset of network drivers

If your internet connection is down or most of your internet pages won't open, then resetting all parameters and the TCP / IP stack can be an excellent solution to this problem.

Disconnecting the network card

To disable a network adapter, the best tool is to use the most standard and convenient Windows tool for keeping all such hardware - Device Manager. Do the following:

In this case, the shutdown will occur immediately, you will not even need to reboot the OS.

Important! After the adapter is disconnected, the Internet connection will be interrupted along with it and disconnection from the local network will occur. Therefore, it is recommended that you finish all your online activities in a timely manner before disconnecting the network card.

The network adapter does not have valid IP settings

A common problem for Windows 7 users is when problems with Internet access appear and the network diagnostic tool gives a message that the network adapter does not have valid IP settings.

In this case, you can try resetting your router first. If you have a wired connection, disable and then re-enable your network connection in the network connections menu. If this does not help, then you can proceed to further steps.

Step 1. Renewing your IP address is the easiest method, although not always helpful in this case. To do this, open Command Prompt (as administrator) and enter the following commands:

Check again, is the error still displayed? If so, let's move on.

Step 2. You can try to reset the network settings, namely the IP protocols. It is recommended to reset the TCP / IP protocol stack to factory settings in the most severe cases, when problems are caused by the actions of malware, etc. To do this, open the command line in administrator mode and enter:

Network card settings fly off

When setting up a network, users may face the following situation: when the IP address, gateway, DNS are manually registered - the assigned parameters are not saved, but are reset to the factory settings, and thus it becomes impossible to change the network settings by automatically obtaining addresses from the router. One of the common reasons for this is the incorrect removal of an antivirus that has firewall functionality.

What should be done:

Reset the TCP / IP protocol stack to factory defaults (the article above showed you how to do this).
Reboot.

If that doesn't help, then do the following:

After that, the problem should be resolved.

What to do if there are problems with the network card?

Many plug-in power adapters, due to their vulnerability to electricity, can fail for a while during periods of severe thunderstorms or power outages in a building. In most cases, difficulties arise in situations with wired equipment, since multi-storey buildings have long cable routes, laid by Internet providers in not completely intended places, in the vicinity of telephone and television cables and high voltage wires. High humidity, dampness and low temperature in this area - all this has an extremely negative effect on the insulation of the wires, therefore breakdowns appear in them .

Sometimes also, in more rare cases, breakdowns occur due to emergencies such as a major thunderstorm. It is quite common for network adapters to burn out, or users begin to experience difficulty logging into the network. In this case, the equipment will function, but the Internet connection may not be available during such periods.

Unfortunately, this problem can be solved only by purchasing another model of the network adapter. For a desktop computer, the PCI standard is compliant, for a laptop - USB and PCMCIA.

It is also not recommended to plug the network cable into the router, and then connect the computer to it, because even if the router breaks down, replacing it will be relatively inexpensive compared to replacing the network card built into the computer (or even the entire motherboard).

Windows 7 does not see the network adapter

When the integrated network equipment is not shown either in the "Network Connections" window, or in the "Device Manager", and is not even reflected in the "Unknown devices" section (which would be explained by the lack of drivers), then most likely something is wrong with it physically. It is quite possible that some transistors on the network card have burned out, or a chip has flown off - in this case, it is more expedient to buy a new card.

Video - How to set up a wired network card on Windows 7

Wi-Fi routers are an irreplaceable thing in the life of a modern person. Saving on tariffs, using the Internet from several devices at once and the absence of annoying wires made them welcome guests in all homes. The problem can arise only when connected to a stationary computer that does not know how to work with wireless networks.

You should not despair and call a computer specialist: you can connect your computer to Wi-Fi on your own. There are three simple and straightforward ways to install Wi-Fi on a PC, which will be discussed in this article.

Method one: using an external adapter

To connect to Wi-Fi using an external adapter, you first need to purchase this device. This is a compact device that connects to a PC via a USB input, and looks like a USB flash drive or mobile modem. On the side, a Wi-Fi antenna is connected to it, the task of which is to catch the signal of the router. And also there can be two antennas.

An external adapter for connecting to Wi-Fi looks like this:

In order to configure the adapter and activate the work of Wi-Fi on a PC, you will need to perform the following sequence of actions:

Connect the adapter to your computer via USB, connect the antenna to it. Wait for the message about the successful installation of the drivers.
Insert the device driver disc into the PC drive, start the installation. Click "Next" until the installation begins, ignoring possible messages about an unknown manufacturer of drivers.
When the drivers are installed, the wireless Internet icon will appear on the taskbar. Click on it to select the required network and enter the password.

Mini USB adapter video review:

If you have Windows XP, the icon will not appear, and you will need to find the Wi-Fi network manually. To do this, go to the "Network Connections" tab, use the PCM to select the "View available wireless networks" item. You will see a list of networks in which you need to find the one you need and enter a password for it. It looks like this:

As you can see, setting up an external adapter is a simple task that even a beginner can handle.

Method two: using an internal adapter

The situation with the internal adapter is somewhat more complicated. To install this device, you will need to disassemble the system unit, which may frighten an inexperienced user. But you should not be afraid: it is much easier than it might seem at first glance.

The internal adapter connects to the motherboard through a dedicated PCI slot. Outwardly, it looks like this:

To properly install Wi-Fi on your computer using an internal adapter, you need to follow these step-by-step steps:

Unplug the computer from the outlet, remove the side cover of the system unit. Remove the antennas from the internal adapter. Find a free PCI slot.
Unscrew and carefully remove the plug from the connector of your choice.
Now you need to put the adapter into the selected slot. When installing, hold it by the mounting edge and by the right side of the motherboard. At the end of the installation, push down on the adapter until it is fully seated.
Replace the plug by tightening the screw.
Close the system unit, screw the antennas to the back of it. The adapter is ready for use.

After the external adapter is installed on the desktop computer, it will need to be configured. To do this, you will have to repeat the steps used in the first method: install drivers for the device, wait for the icon to appear, or find the desired wireless network manually, enter the password.

Video to help you choose between 2 types of adapter:

After completing all these steps, the Internet without a wire should work.

Method three: using a router

Another way how you can connect a stationary computer to Wi-Fi is to use a router (router). For this method, you need a stable router and a cable to connect to your PC.

To activate a Wi-Fi connection using a router, you need to do the following:

Plug the router into an outlet, connect the cable to the LAN port of the router, and the other side to the computer's network card. Wait until the indicator light comes on.
Enter the router settings system by entering its IP address in the address bar. It is indicated on the back cover of the device, usually 192.168.0.1. Enter username and password: by default it is "admin" for both values.
Find the "Network" tab, in it - the "WAN" item. Indicate the type of network connection used by your ISP. This data can be found on the provider's website and in your contract with him.
Find the item "Clone MAC" in the same tab, select the parameter "Clone MAC address". Accept the changes and save them.
After completing these steps, the Wi-Fi router will be able to distribute the access point to your PC. It is enough to select the created network in the "Available connections" and connect to it by entering the correct password.
This video will help you understand internet hardware:

As you can see, connecting a PC to the Internet without a cable is a simple task. The wireless connection is very convenient, and to set it up yourself, you just need to spend a little time studying the instructions.

Quite often, you can face the problem of using wireless networks on a stationary computer. To connect a PC to Wi-fi, you can use the following methods:

Using an internal network card.
Using an external network card.
Using an additional Wi-fi router.

Connecting a Desktop Computer to a Wireless Network Using an Internal Network Card

Step 1. Remove the side panel from your system unit.

Step 2. Install the wireless network card into the appropriate slot (usually PCI or PCI-express).

Important! Network cards can have one or more antennas. The larger the number of antennas installed, the wider the Wi-fi coverage and data transfer rate. To avoid mistakes, it is worth remembering that you can calculate the required amount as follows: each antenna increases the speed by about 70 Mb / s.

Step 3. Install the drivers for the new network card.

Step 4. Set up the connection to your wireless modem. To change the parameters of the network adapter, you need to enter the "Control Panel" and change the view mode to "Small icons".

Step 5. Access to changes in the properties and settings of the network card is available via the link "Network Control Center ...".

Step 6. In the directory that opens, use the link in the left frame "Changing adapter parameters".

Step 7. Changing the settings of a network adapter occurs through its properties. Call the context menu and use the required item.

Click on "Properties"

Step 8. The settings you need are stored in the "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4)" subdirectory. You can open it by double-clicking, or by highlighting this item and clicking on the "Properties" button.

Step 9. Specify the settings of your wireless connection and save them via the "OK" button.

Important! Make sure that no two are alike on the same networkIP addresses, otherwise there will be a conflict of data separation, and, in fact, only the device that received this address before the others will work. If your wireless router is transmittingIP addresses automatically, use this option.

Connecting a desktop computer to a wireless network using an external network card

External network adapters are connected via USB ports. They are, as a rule, miniature, and represent a "flash drive". When choosing such an adapter, you should also pay attention to the number of antennas. Cards with built-in antennas are most often used, but their data transfer rate is not the best, in addition, the area coverage is rather small.

Step 1. Connect the external adapter to your personal computer.

Step 2. Install the drivers. They usually come with the adapter itself.

Step 3. Complete the network setup as described earlier.

Using additionalWi-Fi router

The configuration of each router is very specific, but there are some general points. Let's consider these nuances using the example of a TP-Link router.

Quite often in a computer environment, the meanings of the words "switch", "hub", "router", switch are confused. Let's give a brief explanation of the switching levels and their corresponding devices (switching levels are determined by the OSI network model):

Hub(first level) - repeater. Equipment that makes it possible to physically parallelize streams. It has no routing tables, does not distinguish between the addresses of computers and other network devices. Due to the impossibility of distributing information to addressees, the load on the network increases, the speed of the network connection decreases.
Switch(second level) - a device that can work with information packets that pass through it. In these packets, the device separates the source and destination addresses, with the “Media Access Control” (MAC) address, not the IP address. During operation, it creates a table of addresses associated with specific ports, which significantly reduces the load on the network. Uncontrollable.
Router(third level) - as the name implies, is a router, that is, a device that provides certain routes. The peculiarity lies in switching networks with different IP. The most successful solution when working in a network, due to the high speed of traffic processing. With pre-laid routes, it can be a kind of "border screen". Supports work with both IP and MAC addresses.
L4-router(fourth level) - advanced router. As a rule, they have the ability to make pseudo-intelligent decisions about changing the direction of traffic. They can work with applications, and combine with other L4-routers. When combined, they work as one device, with common electronic "brains".

Step 1. To connect the computer to the router, use a patch cord (patch cord). Usually one such cord is supplied with the router, but you can make it yourself (see how you can do it).

On a note! Separately, it should be noted that the router has two typesEthernet ports -LAN (local area network) andWAN (Wide Area Network). The global port is used to connect to the Internet, the local port is used for the internal network of a home or business. In our case, you need to connect the computer toLAN, and asWAN we will useWi-fi.

Step 2. To change the settings of the router, you need to log into the device's Web interface. The default address, as well as the login and password, can be found on the router itself.

Step 3. Configure the address of your network card. It must be different from the IP of the router, for example, for our case, you can use the range from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254. Follow the instructions above to make changes. Remember to change the Wired LAN settings.

Step 4. Open your browser and enter the IP address of your router. The "http: //" prefix is added automatically, and you do not need to register it manually.

Step 5. Enter the credentials provided by the manufacturer. Typically, when you first log into the device, you will be asked to change them.

Step 6. In the right frame of the Web interface, expand the Network list. Inside the list, you can configure the settings for connecting to the Internet. Since the configured router will be used as a Wi-fi adapter, you should select the "Dynamic IP" or "Static IP" option. Remember to save your changes.

Important! It is preferable to enterThe IP address is manual, since the dynamic address may change and it will be difficult for you to connect to the router to change any settings.

On a note! Some models of routers have several save buttons - "Apply" and "Save settings". When using the first button, without using the second, the changes are applied only for one session (not yet closedThe router's web interface), when you reconnect, the settings will be reset to the previous ones.

Step 7. In the same list, enter the “MAC Clone” menu and specify the preferred Media Access Control address. Optionally, you can leave the factory one, or "Clone" the address of your personal computer.

Step 8. Expand the Wireless list and enter the Settings menu. Here you should enter the name of the wireless network (SSID) to which you want to connect. The indication of the region is not important, you can set any. Other settings can be ignored, with the exception of the "Enable SSID Broadcast" option - this option allows you to distribute Wi-fi, and connect other routers and other network devices.

Step 9. Go to the “Wireless Security” setup menu. Specify the type of encryption of your access point, and the key for connecting to the wireless network. Remember to save any changes you made.

Step 10. Using the “System Tools” list, enter the “Reboot” menu, and using the corresponding button, restart the router.

Video - How to set up Wi-Fi for Windows 7

Video - How to turn on Wi-Fi in Windows 10

Conclusion

We examined the nuances of connecting a stationary personal computer to a wireless network. Any of the above methods requires the purchase of new equipment, while its choice is due not only to the monetary factor, but also to the additional capabilities of each of the devices, which are shown in the table.

Information / Wednesday	Internal	Outside	Router
Stability of work	Yes	No	Yes
Ability to connect multiple computers at the same time	No	No	Yes
Maximum number of antennas	3	2	8
PC components price	Average	Average	High
The ability to move the antenna a significant distance from the PC	No	When using a USB extension cable (up to 5 meters)	When using a patch cord (up to 100 meters)